Flexible High-Density Mapping Catheter Tips and Flexible Ablation Catheter Tips With Onboard High-Density Mapping Electrodes

Abstract

Flexible high-density mapping catheter tips and flexible ablation catheter tips with onboard high-density mapping electrodes are disclosed. These tips can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias. The flexible, distal tips are adapted to conform to tissue and comprise a plurality of microelectrodes mounted to permit relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes. The flexible tip portions may comprise a flexible framework forming a flexible array of microelectrodes (for example, a planar or cylindrical array) adapted to conform to tissue and constructed at least in part from nonconductive material in some embodiments. The flexible array of microelectrodes may be formed from a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes. The flexible array may further comprise, for example, a plurality of electrode-carrying arms or electrode-carrier bands. Multiple flexible frameworks may be present on a single device. A delivery adapter having an internal compression cone is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrophysiology catheter, the catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a catheter longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end;   a flexible tip assembly coupled to the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to conform to tissue, the flexible tip assembly comprising a plurality of electrode-carrying arms, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms lie in a common plane, the plurality of electrode-carrying arms comprising:
 a first longitudinally-extending outer arm; and 
 a second longitudinally-extending outer arm; 
   a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms;   a first magnetic sensor disposed on the first outer arm; and   a second magnetic sensor disposed on the second outer arm,   wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a planar array comprising a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned electrodes aligned parallel to the catheter longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible tip assembly is configured to facilitate relative movement among at least some of the plurality of electrodes relative to other of the plurality of electrodes, and wherein a nonconductive material insulates each of the plurality of electrodes from other of the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms are fixed adjacent to the distal end of the catheter body to prevent longitudinal movement between the plurality of electrode-carrying arms. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms converges with at least one other of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms at the distal end of the flexible tip assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the planar array comprises a two-sided planar array of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured for contacting tissue on a front side and a back side of the planar array. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms are configured to maintain the plurality of electrodes in a spaced relationship such that each of the plurality of electrodes captures separate data about electrical activity of cardiac tissue adjacent to the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are equally spaced along each of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are further configured for use in unipolar or bipolar ablation. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms comprise at least four longitudinal arms extending distally from a proximal bushing and arranged generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise between four and sixty-four individual electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . An electrophysiology ablation catheter, the ablation catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a catheter longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end;   a flexible tip assembly coupled to the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to conform to and contact tissue, wherein the flexible tip assembly includes a plurality of electrode-carrying arms; and   a plurality of electrodes disposed on each of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to affect an ablation treatment,   wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a planar array comprising a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned electrodes aligned parallel to the catheter longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         12 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are further configured for use in unipolar or bipolar ablation. 
     
     
         13 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms comprises a proximal end and a distal end. 
     
     
         14 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the planar array comprises a two-sided planar array of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured for contacting tissue on a front side and a back side of the planar array. 
     
     
         15 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms are configured to maintain the plurality of electrodes in a spaced relationship such that each of the plurality of electrodes captures separate data about electrical activity of cardiac tissue adjacent to the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are further configured for radiofrequency ablation. 
     
     
         17 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms comprises a first outer arm and a second outer arm, wherein a first magnetic sensor is disposed on the first outer arm and a second magnetic sensor is disposed on the second outer arm. 
     
     
         18 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible tip assembly is configured to facilitate relative movement among at least some of the plurality of electrodes relative to other of the plurality of electrodes, and wherein a nonconductive material insulates each of the plurality of electrodes from other of the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         19 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrode-carrying arms are fixed adjacent to the distal end of the catheter body to prevent longitudinal movement between the plurality of electrode-carrying arms. 
     
     
         20 . The ablation catheter of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms converges with at least one other of the plurality of electrode-carrying arms at the distal end of the flexible tip assembly.